Cross Effects 3.0 - April 13, 2015—June 23, 2016

[Kotomine_Rin]

Tohuw Balagan

Tohuw listened carefully to both and sighed. Then, he let Sakura go and smiled at Irisviel. Immediately, the tension in the room vanished.

"That would be best. Forgive me, milady. It appears even devils can get angry, eh?" He said, his tone much more cheerful than before. Bowing respectfully and elegantly, he then turned to Sakura.

"How about we let this under the bridge?" Asked Toe, holding his hand out for a handshake.

[Elf]

Rin

Rin sighed at Sakura and said, "He exist because he does.  Somethings there isn't a why someone exists, that they just do.  There are plenty of people without purpose, Sakura.  However if he needs to leave then someone needs to ask him to leave."

[SINIB]

Sakura

Sakura was woefully oblivious to Rin's words. Her eyes were far too busy frantically trying to track things only she could see, widened with pure, unadulterated, terror. She watched shadows moving rapidly across the ceiling, flitting about listlessly with great speed.

She began to hear nondescript whispering in the background. They were clearly making fun of her, laughing at her! She hated it! She couldn't stand the aggravating noise. "Shut up!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. "Please—!"

[Kaze]

KOTOMINE KIREI

The heat was unbelievable. Kirei could feel his own body starting to break down, and the wall between him and the fiery creature was failing under its blazing assault. Small drops of blood and charred bits of flesh fell away from his body and clothes like burned charcoal, yet the priest still seemed unharmed.

There was an odd thunk from behind, and he turned his head just in time to see shards of ice materialize and stab him through the back. A spray of pink flew from his chest as the frozen water penetrated all the way through him, only to be burned to nothing before it even hit the ground. He ground his teeth, glaring at the source of the ice with a look of pure hate even as the spikes started to melt within him. So enraged and focused on this new enemy, he didn't even hear the newcomer enter and call out.

But even so, he made no move to attack. Indeed, there was no need for something so foolish as a direct assault.

Something black and sinister was crawling beneath the floor, seeping through the cracks to climb the outside walls. Evil itself had come to leave its mark, and slowly but surely covered the walls, floor, and even the roof from the outside, blocking every door, window, or escape hatch. The room was sealed, perfectly airtight. There was no longer a way out... or in.

And now, the inferno’s own awesome power worked against it. In seconds, every last shred of oxygen was devoured, leaving nothing left for the flames, or any living being trapped inside with them. But even without the fire, the heat would remain. It was as though awesome heat of the furnace itself had come to join them, and the remaining ice hissed loudly as it quickly disintegrated into vapor. And within Kirei's own mind, where he was unaware of its invader, a multitude spoke out. Whispers, voices, meaningless muddle all overlapping into


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[SINIB]

μ-12

A sword disappeared from behind Noel's back and a great deal of seithr was consumed. This would finish it. The danger would be gone. The demon would be dead.

"STOP FIRING!"

Noel flinched, startled by the sudden exclamation. As her focus was momentarily broken, the lasers stopped firing for a brief moment.

However, this moment was enough. The giant tentacle slammed into Saber and Lancelot, sending them hurtling behind Noel, and allowing Lancelot to escape his imminent demise. A gigantic portal appeared in front of her, releasing a pulsating blue sword at incredible speed, now flying towards the tentacle with enough force to cut through boulders as if they were butter.

"Detective, you don't understand! Noel yelled. "Lancelot's dangerous, he's going to get us all killed, or worse!"

[Panda]

Seras

The vampire's eyes widened in shock as the robot turned with the blow, trying to use the person strapped to her chest as a shield. It was too late to pull back the blow entirely, but Seras did what she could to reduce it. Even so, the impromptu hammer sent the robot flying, having since dropped the man.

Letting the vehicle's momentum carry her around, Seras let fly with the car, tossing the ruined vehicle at the now solitary robot-lady with everything she could muster before moving forward, snatching up the now even more heavily injured man as the shadow mass formed a set of wings and sent her rocketing into the air, nothing but a red streak as she made for the nearest hospital.

On the way, she made a quick call for backup to collect the other man, warning the dispatcher that there might still be hostiles in the area.

[Elf]

Rin

The raven haired magus frowned as Sakura's behavior changed drastically, Rin's words falling on deaf ears.  Then Sakura was looking at things that she could only see, her eyes frantically moving back and forth.  She looked at the ceiling, at the walls, everything around them but focused on nothing.

"Shut up!  Please!" Sakura screamed, loud enough that Rin's ears rang with the force of it.

Gritting her teeth, Rin walked up to her alternate-sister and whispered, "I'm sorry about this, Sakura."  Then she held up her hand and brought it hard across the other magus's face with a resounding slap that echoed through the room. 

Hand stinging from the blow, Rin put her hands on Sakura's shoulders and said, "Sakura.  Look at me.  Breathe and look at me."

[Arch-Magos Winter]

Abigail laughed and said, "Come on, I'll show you.  You grabbed razors right?"

Law nodded, following the changeling through her apartment. "Yeah, I grabbed a few, just in case. We're going to need to figure out shower times and that sort of shit."

[yinsukin]

Ignis Clover

A few seconds after the car hit the wall Ignis returned to the air, hovering just above the ground once more. In the next moment, the car was sent flying at her once more.  This time she was prepared.  With her hands now free, she transformed them into blades and sliced the car in two, delivering two diagonal slashes with her hands. However, she did not counter attack and simply watched as the police officer moved to grab the swordsmen and her master.  Not willing to risk endangering the captive or her master, Ignis disappeared in a flash of purple light.

[SINIB]

Sakura

Sakura felt a resounding smack hit her face, leaving her ears ringing from the impact. An angry red welt quickly formed on her face.

But she could still hear them.

They kept going without pause.
Talking on and on and on. In fact, she could hear them louder than ever.

She curled up into a ball on the floor and looked at her sister blankly as she saw her open her mouth. She couldn't hear her though. The ringing was overpowering the voices while the voices surpassed the ringing. All she could hear was a glorious cacophony of chaos.

She tried to move her arm to grab Rin, to pull her close, but she couldn't. Her body wouldn't listen. Nothing was working right, something was preventing the signals from reaching their target. So she did the only thing she could think of. Her shadow erupted out of its slumber, attempting to pull Rin down towards her.

[Elf]

Rin

Rin's eyes widened as Sakura didn't respond to the slap and simply curled into a ball onto the floor.  Sakura's mouth opened and closed and her large, violet eyes were wavering and unfocused.  Sakura's arm twitched, but other than that she wasn't moving.

Then Sakura's shadow stirred, coming to life as ice began to form in Rin's gut.  Her heart started to pound as she gathered herself.  One moment's hesitation could cost Rin her life as her Crest flared to life in a sickly green glow. Prana flowed through her limbs as she nimbly dodged the shadow's tendrils.

I have to figure out a way to snap her out of this, fast, or we'll all be in trouble.

Then the door flew open and Emiya Shriou walked in.  His sherry eyes widened as he reached for Sakura. His hands wrapped around her shoulders and lifted her up.  "Sakura, what's wrong?"

He looked at Rin and scowled before asking, "What did you do?"

"Nothing, we were just talking and she had some fit," Rin said, still keeping up the reinforcement.  The last time Sakura had her shadow that active hadn't been a pleasant one and, even though she loved her sister, Rin wasn't going to let her guard down.


Abigail

The redhead tilted her head and said, "Well I generally take mine when I first get up.  It helps me get going, but this place does have two toilets so that works."

[Umbra of Chaos]

Sewer Infected

The Hydra began to slow its charge and began to writhe in pain as something tore it apart from within. As it slowed a massive blue sword nearly cut off the front of its face and almost immediately after the creature exploded in a shower of blood and gore. As if something had ripped into every inch of it and moved. If eyes could pierce the darkness they could see countless black spikes for an instant before they disappeared.

The sewage worker fell onto the ground face first with a splash of water. He groaned as the water seeped in through the numerous holes in his suit but otherwise stayed down.

[Cherry Lover]

Shirou and Rider

Shirou looked at Vanguard with confusion. How could he be "Sakura's protector". That was Rider's job.

"But, Rider is Sakura's protector...", he said with confusion.

"And, yes, I have met the other Shirou. He is this Sakura's true love, I have upset her greatly. I have my own beloved Sakura, though, who is out there somewhere in this city. I need to find her", he continued.

Then, suddenly, they heard a loud scream.

"Shut up! Please—!" Sakura shouted.

Shirou looked in the direction, desperately wanting to go and help her, but he held himself in check. She had no wish to see him, or to be anywhere near him, and he would respect that wish.

Rider, however, knew she had to help her master. She ran towards the room. She arrived just after Shirou had kicked the door open to reveal Sakura's shadow, seemingly "attacking" Rin.

"What did you do?" Shirou said with a scowl, holding on to Sakura as he did.

"Nothing, we were just talking and she had some fit", Rin replied.

Rider tensed up. She could see that Rin was still in combat mode and, whilst it was unlikely that Rin truly and genuinely loved Sakura, Rider knew that her dedication to Sakura's well-being was not quite as absolute as hers or, even, Shirou's.

Rider approached Sakura carefully, trying to both protect Rin and, if necessary, protect Sakura from Rin.

"Sakura, are you OK?" she said with great concern.

[Knick]

Suiren

Suiren frowned at Butler’s question. Her face tensed and she started to tremble slightly. Her fists clenched and the floor began to creak slightly. “He…” She paused, almost as if trying to find the right words, “Is someone I have to beat.” She finished, she body loosening slighty.

“I’m going for a walk. Follow if you want or you can try and find someplace nicer to stay, your call.” Suiren told him tensely, before smashed a hole in the wall before her, before jumping away.

Crest

Staring at the flow he was oblivious to Caedia walking up to him and stretching out a hand, even to Aki’s yelling and aggressiveness, he was trembling, his face was drenched with sweet, and his eyes were dilated. The only sound he was making was his heavy panting, as he desperately tried to draw in air.

A drop of red from his head snapped him out of it, moving himself to a sitting position he reached up to his forehead, hissing slightly as his fingers the broken skin. His head was pounding, everything ached slightly. He took his hand away from his forehead and looked at the blood on it.

Something… something happened. It was not when he first used his powers; it wasn’t like that at all. It felt almost as if there was… intent. Something… doing something. There were not words to describe it. And as he tried to remember what he felt, exactly what he saw, it vanished as if it was a dream.

It was only then he saw the ribbon hovering in the air around his arm, and instantly he knew what it was. It was his rejection, Rejection of Truth. And despite everything about it, as he saw it his face spouted a small smirk.

It was only then his eyes focused beyond his arm and the ribbon and saw Caedia’s outstretched hand, he grabbed it, the smirk still plastered to his face he muttered out thanks as he pulled himself up.

And yet he still did not notice the crackling of flames behind him.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vanguard

Another...Sakura?

Vanguard couldn't help but chuckle. The conditions were ideal, no, far more than ideal. He could barely hold back the urge to roar in laughter at the revelation. Could it be, she was a child of destiny as well? The possibility was there. It was delectable.

This knowledge, he'd savour it like nectar.

But the time of celebration was halted. A loud scream, and a tremendous surge of energy could be felt from above. Oppressive by nature, Vanguard worried that Sakura may be in danger. Without wasting breath, he ran upstairs as fast as he possibly could, not minding the devastation he laid in his tracks.

Without a care, he bashed trough the wall and laid before a weakly figure of his master, crawled up and in clear pain.

The fear in her eyes was as unsettling as the black mass oozing from what should've been her shadow. That thing...

He had no time. Quickly, he dashed to Sakura with the intention to hold her in his embrace, willing to use his body as a shield to protect the others.

Whatever affliction had befallen her, he could not allow it to harm his savior or those around her. Their role in this play was not to die to that shade, he would not allow it.

"STAND BACK!" He roared.